Black Mask
Born Roman Sionis, he was the by-product of self-absorbed wealthy parents who cared more about their social standing than his well-being. Because of this, he became obsessed with the idea of masks. After killing them both, he not only inherited the family fortune but took the opportunity to forge a new identity by carving a black mask out of his father’s casket and becoming a leader of Gotham’s crime world.While many of the top Batman villains resort to over-the-top dramatics and wacky gimmicks to fuel their crimes, the Black Mask retains a creepy dignity rooted in good old-fashioned sadism and the use of a well-fired gun.
The Penguin
Batman villain campiness at its best, the Penguin has been a long-time mainstay in the Caped Crusader’s rogues gallery. Having debuted in 1941’s Detective Comics #58, Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot III originally got his start as your run-of-the-mill crook. Over the many years, the character evolved into a notorious Gotham crimelord.Despite being the grotesque face of the city’s criminal underworld, Penguin has also shown a practical, sometimes even quasi-legitimate business side, committing his treacherous acts less out of a need to wreak havoc and more out of a pursuit for personal and financial gain. Adding to his dangerousness, the man of a thousand umbrellas has displayed refined intelligence and sophistication.
Deathstroke
Though he began as a Teen Titans villain, Deathstroke has evolved to become a top Batman villain after the likes of Batman: Arkham Origins and more recent comics. He is one of the few fighters to win against Batman multiple times. Slade Wilson was the subject of a failed super-soldier project that turned him into the world’s greatest assassin.
Deathstroke’s rivalry with Batman has had several incarnations. Usually, though, it involves Deathstroke being paid to kill the Bat or getting payback for a previous defeat. Deathstroke is unrelenting when he has a target and his tactical abilities match that of Batman which is why he is even capable of defeating heroes like the Flash.
Joker
Sherlock Holmes has Professor James Moriarty while Batman is treated to the Joker. Joker is everything Batman is and isn’t. They are both broken minds, victims of their harsh lives who see Gotham as broken. While Batman sees it as something to fix, Joker sees it as a hilarious joke that’s earned his chaos and destruction. On a Batman villains’ list, no one ranks higher.
Joker and Batman have been rivals for many decades going back to the 1940s. He’s had a plethora of origin stories as well as portrayals of him as a mystery man with no identity. Their battles have ranged from cute and colorful adventures to deep, dark, and even disturbing conflicts. From comics to movies and video games, the Joker will always be there to give Batman a hard time.
